News

Police calls: Attempted arson suspected at Woodside Elementary School

This information is based on reports from the Menlo Park Police Department and the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. Under the law, people charged with offenses are considered innocent unless convicted. Police received the reports on the dates shown.

Residential burglary: A resident of the 2000 block of Portola Road told deputies that his home had been burglarized. Deputies had no details except the estimated loss: $8,800. Aug. 11.

Assault, battery and attempted strong arm robbery A man and three friends stopped by a raucous party on Ranch Road where fighting was going on. The man was patted down at one point by another man holding a gun and who had pointed the gun at him. The man and his friends, some of whom had minor injuries from the fighting, ran to their cars and drove off to report the crimes. Aug. 8.

Fraud: Management at Roberts Market, with the assistance of San Mateo County authorities, were able to track down details of a man and woman suspected of using a Roberts credit line belonging to a resident of Hardwick Road to make purchases at the store in June. Aug. 6.

Traffic accidents:

■ A woman riding a bicycle north on Whiskey Hill Road either struck something on the pavement or tried to avoid striking it, lost control of her bike and flipped it. She struck her head she was wearing a helmet and received abrasions on her face and body. Medics took her to Stanford Hospital for treatment. Aug. 8.

■ A driver headed east on La Honda Road at about 2:20 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon collided with a driver headed west and traveling too fast to negotiate the turn. The westbound driver lost control, crossed the double yellow line, and collided with the right front side of the eastbound driver's vehicle. Both vehicles were significantly damaged and medics took the westbound driver to Stanford Hospital with complaint of pain to his knee and waist. Aug. 9.

Theft: Someone stole several tools from an open shed on Grandview Drive while the resident was restoring a barn. Estimated loss: $735.

PORTOLA VALLEY

Residential burglary: An unlocked sliding door is believed to have been the entry point for a burglar who stole a purse and two figurines from a hallway of a home on Westridge Drive while the resident was taking a nap in her bedroom. The front door was found ajar. Estimated loss: $1,800. Aug. 12.

Traffic accident: A bicyclist headed east on Alpine Road collided with the right side of a vehicle entering the Alpine Hills Swim and Tennis Club, knocking her off her bike. The accident left the cyclist with abrasions on her arm and hip, but she refused medical attention. Aug. 12.

WEST MENLO PARK

Residential burglary: Someone kicked in the front door of a home on Prospect Street and stole several pieces of jewelry and $200 in cash. Estimated loss: $5,600. Aug. 12.

LADERA

Theft: A woman attending a party at a home on Erica Way discovered a cellphone, credit cards and car keys stolen from her purse, which she had left unattended. Estimated loss: $650. Aug. 9.

■ A bike was stolen from an open garage on Elder Avenue. Estimated loss: $500. Aug. 14.

B Commercial burglaries:==

■ At St. Patrick's Seminary on Middlefield Road, someone smashed a seminary window and some drawers that had been closed were found open, but nothing appears to have been taken. Aug. 14.

■ At Exponent Engineering and Scientific Consulting on Jefferson Drive, a security guard scared away someone trying to break through a locked gate on company grounds. Aug. 14.

Auto burglary: A burglar opened a car parked on Marsh Road by manipulating the door lock, then stole from the trunk a wallet containing $3,000 in cash. Aug. 15.

Thefts:

■ A man was seen entering the Safeway supermarket at 525 El Camino Real, placing a bottle of liquor in the pocket of his hooded sweater, walking out while carrying a case of Sierra Vista Pale Ale, placing the beer in the basket of his bike and riding off. Estimated loss: $19. Aug. 20.

■ An employee of Big 5 Sporting Goods on El Camino Real followed a customer outside and recovered five shirts that the customer had put inside a backpack and had not paid for before leaving the the store. Aug. 15.

Fraud: A resident of Del Norte Avenue got suspicious contacted police after agreeing to sell a cellphone to someone who sent the resident a check for $2,430 with instructions to deduct the amount of the phone plus $50 and give the remainder to a courier. Aug. 20.